Do Act of God Clauses Include COVID-19?
Following the SARS outbreak in 2002, many business interruption insurance policies started including an exemption for pandemics caused by a viral or bacterial outbreak. But even those that do not specifically reference a pandemic are likely to have a catch-all “Act of...
PA Municipal Governments Can Prepare to Defend Against Possible Wrongful Death Lawsuits from COVID-19
As of May 6, 2020, in the state of Pennsylvania, there have been nearly 52,000 cases of COVID-19 and over 3,000 deaths. First responders, healthcare workers and other essential people employed by municipal governments are getting sick and some are dying of COVID-19....
Are WARN Notices Required for COVID-19 Layoffs in Pennsylvania?
As a result of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 stay-at-home order, many businesses are having employees telecommute – some for the first time. But others have had to terminate or furlough all or some of their workforce, whether employees wear white or blue collars. As efforts...
Don’t Let COVID-19 Layoffs Trigger Discrimination Complaints
On April 14, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a “COVID-19 Emergency Mitigation Plan for Businesses.” It requires Gov.Tom Wolf to publish guidelines on how businesses can operate while reducing the risk of spreading the coronavirus. Businesses...
Questions and Answers for Pennsylvania Employers About COVID-19, the EEOC, OSHA and ADA
While each organization’s situation is unique, this Q-and-A provides some general guidance on how Pennsylvania employers may keep from running afoul of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) employment laws, OSHA and EEOC rules during the COVID-19 pandemic. Question:...
Workers Using Medical Marijuana Are Protected from Being Fired
Employees who are prescribed medical marijuana and are terminated by employers for using it in the workplace just received a serious level of protection. A Lackawanna County court said an employee’s suit against her former employer may proceed. Pamela Palmiter worked...
PA Supreme Court: Part-Time Police Officers Entitled to Civil Service Protection
PA Supreme Court: Part-Time Police Officers Entitled to Civil Service Protection In a recent decision, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that part-time police officers are protected by the Police Tenure Act or the Borough Code when a municipality tries to fire...
Defending Products Liability Lawsuits in Pennsylvania
A products liability lawsuit case is never pleasant for anyone involved. When a products liability lawsuit is filed, it is because someone has been injured, suffered a property loss or – in the worst-case scenario – died. As a result, those responsible for putting the...
Ronald Sherr’s Role in Historical Tropicana Garage Collapse Case
Ask any attorney about the cases of their career that touched them most and they won’t need to think for long – even if it’s been years or decades since those cases have been resolved. We ultimately began our career hoping to make a difference and practice law based...
Tony Sherr Attends Pennsylvania Society Dinner and Awards Gala
Once again, in December Tony Sherr of the Sherr Law Group attended the annual dinner and award gala of the Pennsylvania Society. Held on December 7, it was the 121st annual meeting of the prestigious...
5 Tips for Handling Bad Online Pennsylvania Camp Reviews
5 Tips for Handling Bad Online Pennsylvania Camp Reviews There isn’t a business owner alive who likes seeing a negative review posted online about their company. For camp owners in Pennsylvania, it can be especially worrisome since parents...
Social Media in Employment and Municipal Law: The Road Raging Employee
Social media is undoubtedly one of the great communication tools of our time. But using sites like Facebook and Instagram doesn’t come without repercussions. There are limits to freedom of speech, particularly in the employment setting; when speech exceeds those...